U.S. Sen. Mark Udall’s comment Sunday that the United States should close Guantanamo Bay “but keep the terrorists here in jail indefinitely” brings back memories of a 2009 battle in Colorado, led by then state Rep. Cory Gardner, now Udall’s campaign opponent.

President Barack Obama had announced then that he would close the Guantanamo Bay prison, located on an American naval base in Cuba, that has held suspected terrorists since the start of the war in Iraq. One option to house some or all of the prisoners was Supermax, the maximum-security federal penitentiary in Fremont County in Colorado, about 90 miles south of Denver, built to house the country’s worst prisoners.

Gardner, a Yuma Republican, circulated a petition protesting a possible transfer to Colorado, saying the state shouldn’t be a dumping ground for terrorists.

“I’m shocked some Democrats are standing for bringing terrorists into Colorado,” Gardner said, at the time.

He expressed the same sentiment today.

Gardner and Udall, a Democrat seeking a second term, are engaged in one of the fiercest Senate battles in the country, with most polls showing them virtually tied.

In a 2010 photo, former state senator Bob Bacon enjoys a meal provided by longtime capitol aide Mickie Clayton, at right, in the middle is Fox 31 reporter Eli Stokols. Next month Bacon joins the state ethics commission. (John Prieto, The Denver Post.)

When it convenes to decide right and wrong next month, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission will have a new member, one who has a school named after him and the same one who spent his personal time sitting through a tedious 11-hour hearing last Friday (for Secretary of State Scott Gessler). Bob Bacon, a Democrat and former state senator from Fort Collins, will replace Dan Grossman, a former state senator from Denver. Grossman’s four-year term on the all-volunteer ethics panel ends this month.

By law, the ethics commission is made up of two Democrats, two Republicans and one unaffiliated member. Bacon joins fellow Democrat Rosemary Marshall of Denver, Republicans Matt Smith of Grand Junction and Sally Hopper of Golden, with Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham, who is an unaffiliated member appointed by the four other commissioners.

Denver may be bored with this year’s municipal election, which seems to have the pulse of a piece of cold marble. But for those of us who get paid to pay attention, the 2011 campaign has been anything but boring, featuring excitement, humor, sadness and some very strange moments.

Here, less than a week before Tuesday’s ballot count, is a breakdown of the best and worst from this year’s campaign.

Best Mayoral Forum: Candidate Survivor. Hands down. The April 6 forum at Casselman’s was put on by the folks at New Era Colorado, featuring questions posed by a man dressed as a bed bug, drinking among the candidates, crowd-voting by text messaging and, yes, dancing. A crazy night that had Doug Linkhart winning after he threw candies to the crowd and promised to legalize marijuana.

Courtney Law, House Democratic caucus spokeswoman: Managed to work a grand total of three hours last week, on opening day, then crawled back into bed with the flu. Over the weekend she took her partner to the ER for the same thing. “I got this 11 days ago and I’m still not 100 percent,” Law said.

Lobbyist Steve Durham: Was at the Capitol briefly this morning but left and isn’t sure when he’ll be back. “I have pneumonia,” he said.

Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins: Was sick all weekend, the MLK holiday and missed the session on Tuesday.

House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument: Moved up appointments today so she can get home by 3 p.m. and go to bed. “I feel like a truck hit me,” said Stephens, whose desk was covered with cough drops and Mucinex.

Fox’s Eli Stokols: “Been home all week with this crud, too. Worse than an endless committee hearing.”

And that’s just for starters. Other lawmakers are out and so are their aides.

Two of the most respected lawmakers to pass through the House in recent years will offer a post-game analysis on tonight’s gubernatorial debate on Fox 31 News.

Andrew Romanoff

Rob Witwer

The live debate, which is being held at the Botanic Gardens, begins tonight at 8 followed by commentary from former Rep. Rob Witwer, a Genesee Republican, and former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Denver Democrat who lost the Senate primary in August.

The debate features Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Democratic nominee; Republican Dan Maes; and American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo. The moderators will be Fox 31 anchor Ron Zapolo and political reporter Eli Stokols.

The debate also is sponsored by AARP.

By the way, the Fox News story about the debate comes complete with this comment from a reader, who talks about morons and then writes: “Go Buck and kick some Sanctuary City, tax and gouge, Mayor’s behind!”

The person later corrected it to say he meant Tancredo (Buck is running for the Senate) but perhaps this person should remember that it was Tancredo who wanted literacy tests for voters.

Most likely to get his name in the paper, to Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver: Medical marijuana, payday lending, you name it, Romer is the guy with the issue where the cameras are. That’s why earlier this year some of the younger lobbyists started humming Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” when he walked by.

Most missed, to Mickie Clayton, an aide to Sen. Paula Sandoval: An icon in northwest Denver, she’s known for her annual homemade Italian feast (OMG, those meatballs). After 18 years at the Capitol, she’s retiring at the end of the session.

And The Spot hands out its own award:
Media troublemaker, to Eli Stokols: He had no idea when he did a feature about lawmakers living in Denver his story on Sen. John Morse would result in an ethics violation being filed against the Colorado Springs Democrat. Republicans say the $500 in rent Morse pays to a friend is below market value and a violation of the state’s ethics law.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.